The Secret Garden Chronicles-Day 10-Morning Praise and Prayer

"When morning gilds the skies

Sunrise on Lake Kerr

My heart awaking cries,

"May Jesus Christ be praised."

Alike at work and prayer

To Jesus I repair,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

To Thee O God above

I cry with glowing love,

"May Jesus Christ be praised!"

This song of sacred joy, 

It never seems to cloy,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind,

A solace here I find;

May Jesus Christ be praised.

Or fades my earthly bliss,

My comfort still is this:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine,

My canticle divine;

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this the eternal song,

Through all the ages long;

May Jesus Christ be praised!

As I am sitting here in the Secret Garden this morning, our President and many government and religious leaders are gathering together for the National Prayer Breakfast.

I was going to stay inside and listen to it on television, but decided to come out to the garden and pray with them instead.

I am praying for our President as he addresses this group of godly people from our nation who are concerned about the direction of our country, and who believe in the power of prayer to sustain, empower, correct, and protect our leaders and nation as a whole.

The Lord directed my attention to Psalm 5 as I prayed:

1.  "Give ear to my words, O Lord.

Consider my meditation.

2.  Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and My God;

For to YOU I will pray.

3.  My voice You shall hear 

in the morning, O Lord.

In the morning I will direct it to YOU,

and I will look up..."

And then I prayed:

"May You, O Lord God,

Hear our prayers.

May You, Jesus, intercede on behalf of people (believers)

everywhere who are being persecuted for Your Name's sake.

Lord, we heard on the news just this morning that over 

90,000 Christians worldwide have been persecuted and killed

for their faith in You.  

Many, many more are suffering severe persecution every day.

We are feeling the effects of this persecution beginning to permeate

our society here in America...and if we as Christians don't stand united

against these enemies of our faith, 

we will soon see such atrocities against Christians reach our shores.

O Lord, I look up to You today and pray for our nation."

Psalm 5:4 ~

"For You are not a God Who takes pleasure in wickedness,

Nor shall evil dwell with You."

Verses 11-12:

"But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy,

because You defend them;

Let those also who love Your Name

Be joyful in You.

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield."

Lord, Please bless the righteous and surround us with 

Your shield.

Defend us and bless our nation with Your peace.

In Jesus' Name I pray,

Amen.

"If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways...then will I hear from heaven...and will forgive their sin, and heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14